FLUORESCENCE IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION FOR DETECTING ERBB-2 AMPLIFICATIONIN BREAST-TUMOR FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSIES

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of erbB-2 amplification? analys is of fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies. STUDY DESIGN: FNA smears and dissociated nuclei from 58 breast cancer samples were examined by dual-labeling fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with probes fo r centromere 17 and the erbB-2 gene. The results were compared with th e outcome of erbB-2 immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Tumors were categor ized according to the erbB-2/centromere 17 signal ratio. There were 23 tumors with high-level amplification, four cases with a low-level erb B-2 gain and 27 tumors with normal erbB-2 content. Four tumors showed an erbB-2 deletion, all in patients less than or equal to 42 years of age. ErbB-2 amplification was strongly associated with positive erbB-2 immunostaining (P < .0001). Comparison of FISH analysis on dissociate d cells and on FNA biopsies showed high correspondence (P < .0001). CO NCLUSION: FISH allows reliable detection of erbB-2 gene amplification on FNA biopsies.